A district judge this month sentenced sentenced Evette “Betty” Osuegbu, 62, of Granite City, Illinois to 15 years in federal prison for her role in a string of arsons and insurance fraud stretching from 2014 to 2023.
Following a five-day trial in December, a jury seated in East St. Louis found Osuegbu guilty of all 15 counts of an indictment charging conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit arson, and use of fire to commit a federal felony.
Osuegbu’s co-defendant, Rufis Jefferson, 48, of Venice, previously pleaded guilty to all counts of an indictment that included conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Testimony at trial included Osuegbu’s alleged role in a romance scam against an intellectually disabled person and exploiting his illiteracy to obtain property and insurance in his name.
After Osuegbu directed Jefferson to burn the East St. Louis home, she sued the insurance company for a larger payout, using the name of her intellectually disabled victim as a plaintiff, unbeknownst to him. The insurance company settled and Osuegbu retained her victim’s share of the payout.
Jurors also heard recordings of Osuegbu planning arsons at properties in Granite City and Venice. Osuegbu was heard to direct others how to avoid cameras and cell phone tracking and how to best set a fire that is difficult for experts to investigate. The ATF intervened before these properties were burned.
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Illinois
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